Apple opened pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on September 12, with the phones reaching customers on September 18 alongside iOS 27. Every buyer working through checkout this week is hitting the same question at the AppleCare screen: which plan actually covers this phone, and what does it cost. Apple has confirmed that both AppleCare+ and the newer AppleCare One are available for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, but the per-device AppleCare+ price has been oddly absent from Apple’s own support pages, which has left buyers piecing together the numbers from what Apple charged for the iPhone 17 Pro and from early pricing spotted by outlets checking coverage directly through a device’s Settings app. Here is what is actually confirmed, what is still reported rather than official, and how to think about whether you need the coverage at all.
What AppleCare+ actually covers
AppleCare+ extends the iPhone 18 Pro’s standard one-year limited warranty and adds the protection that warranty never included. On the iPhone 18 Pro, that means:
- Unlimited incidents of accidental damage, so a cracked screen or a phone that took a swim in the sink does not become a full-price replacement
- Express replacement service if the phone needs to be swapped rather than repaired
- Battery service once the battery’s maximum capacity drops below 80 percent
- 24/7 priority access to Apple’s support team by phone or chat
- Theft and loss protection, covered up to twice within any 12-month period
What it still does not cover is cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect how the phone functions, so a fine scratch on the back glass that Apple can spot but that doesn’t stop the phone from working properly is not a valid claim. Apple’s language covers this under its Hardware Service and Accidental Damage documentation, and that exclusion has carried over unchanged from the iPhone 17 Pro.
AppleCare+ versus AppleCare One
Apple now sells two structurally different ways to protect the iPhone 18 Pro. AppleCare+ is the plan tied to one specific device, purchased either as a monthly subscription or a one-time upfront payment, and it is the plan most people picture when they think of Apple’s insurance. AppleCare One, introduced in July 2025, is a single subscription that covers up to three eligible Apple products at once, with each additional device beyond three adding to the monthly cost. Here’s how the two compare directly:
| Plan | Devices covered | Price | Theft or loss claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| AppleCare+ | 1 (the iPhone 18 Pro) | Reportedly $14.99/month or $149.99/year | Up to 2 per year |
| AppleCare One | Up to 3, plus $5.99/month per extra device | $19.99/month | Up to 3 per year, shared across devices |
| AppleCare One Family | Every eligible device across a Family Sharing group of up to 6 people | $49.99/month, from September 14 | Shared across the family plan |
If you’re buying the iPhone 18 Pro alongside an Apple Watch Series 12 or a pair of AirPods 5, AppleCare One can cover all three devices for less than most people would pay to insure the phone alone under the old per-device system, and it adds theft and loss protection across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch under the same plan. For anyone who owns more than one Apple product worth protecting, it is worth doing that math before defaulting to the familiar single-device plan.
What AppleCare+ reportedly costs for the iPhone 18 Pro
Apple’s support pages for iPhone 18 Pro carry the AppleCare+ pricing table, complete with the “Monthly” and “Annually” column headers, but the actual dollar figures in those cells were still not rendering in the page Apple serves as of this week, which several outlets checking the page directly have flagged. What Apple has published without ambiguity is AppleCare One at $19.99 a month for up to three devices, so buyers weighing a bundled plan have a real number to work from today.
Consumer Reports, which checks pricing through Apple’s device-side purchase flow rather than the public web page, reported that AppleCare+ with theft and loss protection for the iPhone 18 Pro runs $149.99 a year or $14.99 a month. That would put it roughly a dollar a month above what Apple charged for the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro plan, which launched at $139.99 a year or $13.99 a month, and it lines up with the modest AppleCare+ price increases Apple has applied across its other product lines through 2026. Treat that iPhone 18 Pro figure as reported rather than officially confirmed until it shows up consistently on Apple’s own pages, but it is the most credible number circulating right now, and it came from checking pricing the way an actual buyer would encounter it rather than from a rumor.
What you still pay when something goes wrong
AppleCare+ was never meant to make repairs free, and the fixed service fees are where a lot of the value comes from. Apple has not yet published updated repair fee tables specific to the iPhone 18 Pro, so the figures below reflect what iPhone 17 Pro owners have been paying, but Apple rarely moves these service fees between generations:
| Incident | With AppleCare+ | Without AppleCare+ |
|---|---|---|
| Screen repair | $29 | $329 or more |
| Other accidental damage (bent chassis, broken camera module) | $99 | Full out-of-warranty repair cost |
| Theft or loss claim | Reportedly $149 deductible | Not covered |
| Battery service (below 80 percent capacity) | No charge | Around $119 |
Is AppleCare+ worth it for the iPhone 18 Pro
The math comes down to how the phone actually gets used. At a reported $149.99 a year, AppleCare+ pays for itself the moment you have a single screen repair you would otherwise pay $329 for, or if the phone is lost or stolen within the coverage period. Buyers who keep their phone in a case, rarely drop it, and trade in every year or two before anything goes wrong are the ones who tend to come out ahead skipping the plan and self-insuring instead. Anyone who owns more than one eligible Apple device, or who is buying an Apple Watch Series 12 or AirPods 5 alongside the phone this week, should run the AppleCare One math before defaulting to a standalone AppleCare+ plan, because the bundled option is very likely the cheaper way to protect everything at once.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add AppleCare+ after buying the iPhone 18 Pro?
Yes. Apple allows AppleCare+ to be added within 60 days of buying the iPhone 18 Pro, either through Settings on the phone itself, at an Apple Store, or online, so there is no requirement to decide at checkout.
Does AppleCare+ cover battery replacement?
It does, once the battery’s maximum capacity has degraded below 80 percent of its original design capacity, at no additional charge. Without AppleCare+, an out-of-warranty battery replacement on a Pro model has typically run around $119.
How many theft or loss claims does AppleCare+ allow?
Up to two approved claims within any 12-month period under a standalone AppleCare+ plan, each subject to its own deductible. AppleCare One raises that to three combined claims a year across every device on the plan.
Is AppleCare One cheaper than buying AppleCare+ for each device?
It depends on how many devices you’re covering. At $19.99 a month for up to three products, AppleCare One tends to undercut buying separate AppleCare+ plans as soon as a second eligible device, such as an Apple Watch Series 12 or a pair of AirPods 5, is added to the phone.
Does AppleCare+ cover scratches?
No. Apple’s coverage excludes cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect how the device functions, so surface scratches on the screen or the back glass are not eligible claims under any AppleCare plan, including AppleCare One.
